What is the practical, consistent thing that happens day in and day out that allows our potential to show up when we need it?
Practice.
No musician is complete without it. And it doesn’t have to be a chore.
Practice is the way we build ourselves into the reality we can envision. One brick at a time, it lays the foundation for musical freedom. It sharpens our thinking and wires our muscle memory. The amazing part is that our minds meet us more than half way -- layering connections that become our world of understanding.
When we wire something clearly, reliable results bring satisfaction. When we don’t, we simply have renegotiating to do later. That’s part of the process.
We’re not aiming for perfection, we’re aiming for clarity. And often, detours and mistakes make the correct path easier to recognize when it clicks. Periods of slower progress are sometimes necessary, especially when we’re climbing from a plateau of learning.
Lowering expectations, in a healthy way, can be surprisingly helpful. Talent is built over time. It’s not something that some people have and others don’t. This is an equal-access opportunity.
Today we’ll look at a framework for initiating and sustaining practice, something that shapes our brain, engages our whole body, and opens our awareness. Practice can even become something we look forward to (I made sure to practice before writing this, so it’s fresh, grounded, and real).
The definition of practice says: “to perform (an activity) or exercise (a skill) repeatedly or regularly in order to improve or maintain one's proficiency.” The key word is regularly, gently dispelling the myth that anyone simply arrives knowing how to play.
It is in the doing -- not the thinking about doing -- that we improve. Our task is to get out of our own way and allow a habit to take shape.
And most importantly: if we miss a day, we begin again. No punishment, no regret. Just start again. There is no expiration date.
The Three Stages of Practice
PRE-PRACTICE
Consider a trigger.
Is there a repeated daily event that can naturally lead into practice?
Get home from school ➡ ️snack ➡ practice
Dinner is being prepared ➡ practice
Drop off kids ➡ walk the dog ➡ practice
Get home from work ➡ take a walk ➡ practice
Wake up ➡ brew coffee ➡ practice
Keep it simple. Overthinking and negotiating create openings to opt out. This is where following through with the plan really serves us.
Know yourself. Are you a morning person, or more focused later in the day? There is no “right” time, but consistency helps when possible.
PRACTICING
Center yourself. Take three deep breaths. Feel gravity hold you in place.
For young kids, this can be brief, but meaningful. Could a favorite stuffed animal join? For adults, could a small object be a visual cue?
Remind yourself: you’re doing something courageous. You are stepping into something that many people want to do, but haven’t yet begun.
Be specific. The more detailed your focus, the better your work.
Short cues like:
“tall thumb”
“release”
“prepare the leap”
…are often more helpful than playing from beginning to end and hoping for the best.
Next month, we’ll explore deliberate practice, more deeply, a concept from psychologist Andres Ericsson that applies across music, athletics, and learning.
Include variety. Move between challenging and familiar sections. This balances growth with reinforcement and keeps morale high.
POST-PRACTICE
Move your body. Research shows that walking or light movement helps consolidate fine motor learning.
Rest well. Sleep is a powerful memory consolidation system! It’s remarkable how much continues to link and connect while we sleep.
Acknowledge your effort. Often for me, this comes naturally. Playing itself often brings a sense of clarity, calm, or satisfaction.
Guiding Principles
Here are a few principles to carry with you, whether you’re practicing yourself or supporting your child.
We play music. Sometimes a mental disconnection makes us think that the instrument is the thing to focus on, which takes us away from the reality that our body plays the instrument. Awareness of posture, breath, and ease has a direct impact on both accuracy and enjoyment.
Baby steps count. I feel so happy when I can sit down to play intricate pieces that used to confuse me. The reality is that complex passages are built from a series of simple movements. There is no “easy” or “hard,” only clear or unclear. Choose a pace that allows for clarity and let it compound.
Listening is an active thing. Practicing develops a new kind of listening. Hearing the reverberation of notes, strings, tones, and harmonies helps us respond musically.
Inner ear, outer ear. Can you hear what you intend to play? (inner ear). This is called audiation and it’s linked to imagination. Can you hear what you just played? (outer ear). Developing both takes time, and this is where teachers are invaluable while we build this capacity.
Playing isn’t frivolous. Whether we’re thinking about managing kids' schedules, or planning our own day, the creativity and discipline we need to play are essential to being human. The value of playing is beyond beneficial to our confidence, our presence, and our ability to contribute to the world around us.
Community Matters
Community is our superpower in all of this.
Seeing others practice shows us what commitment looks like. Your effort, or your family rhythms, can inspire someone else to start or continue.
The more solitary parts of learning don’t have to feel isolated. They live within a shared context, supported by others doing the same work alongside us.